British defence lab says can’t identify source of nerve agent

LONDON: The head of Britain’s defence laboratory on Tuesday said that its scientists have not identified the precise source of the nerve agent that poisoned former spy Sergei Skripal, though it’s likely the attack was carried out by a “state actor”.

Britain blames Russia for the March 4 attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia, a claim Moscow fiercely denies.

Scientists at the Porton Down lab have identified the poison as a Soviet-developed type of nerve agent known as Novichok, and the British government says the only plausible explanation is that it came from Russia.

Porton Down chief executive Gary Aitkenhead said scientists at the lab “have not verified the precise source, but we provided the scientific information to the government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions that they have come to”.

Aitkenhead said the attack with a highly toxic chemical weapon was “probably only within the capabilities of a state actor.”

Russian officials have suggested the poison may have come from Britain. Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko called the poisoning a “provocation arranged by Britain” in order to justify high military spending because “they need a major enemy.”

Earlier, the world’s chemical weapons watchdog said it would hold a meeting at Russia’s request on Wednesday to discuss Britain’s allegations that Moscow was behind the poisoning.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said it would hold an emergency meeting on the case on Wednesday at its headquarters in the Hague. AGENCIES

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE POINTED OUT THAT PORTON DOWN CONDUCTS SECRET CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS RESEARCH